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Marlins offer similar style as speedy Padres

Marlins offer similar style as speedy Padres

5/6/13: Juan Pierre slides into second ahead of Nick Hundley's throw to notch his 12th stolen base of the season in the third inning

By Joe Frisaro
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MLB.com |

MIAMI -- The style of play the Padres employ is similar to what the Marlins are striving to achieve.

San Diego has more speed but is built around pitching and defense. Like Miami, it plays in a spacious stadium -- Petco Park -- that is not conducive to home runs.

Thus far, the Padres are getting the better of the Marlins in the season series. They swept three games at San Diego in early May, and they claimed a 9-2 win Friday night in the series opener in Miami.

"I guess they're a similar team," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "They probably have a little more speed than we do. They've stolen some bases collectively throughout their lineup."

Entering Saturday, San Diego paced the National League in stolen bases with 69, while Miami had 38.

The Padres also had the fourth-fewest errors in the NL (39), compared with 49 for the Marlins, who were tied for eighth. In team ERA, the Marlins were at 3.97, with San Diego sitting at 4.06.

Miami is a better club than in early May, when key players like Giancarlo Stanton, Logan Morrison and Nathan Eovaldi were out with injuries. Before the current series, the Marlins last played the Padres May 6-8.

"We're in a different place right now than when we played there," Redmond said. "Every series is a test."